Re: [APML] Frozen Cameras

["John C. Mirtle" <jmirtle@shaw.ca>]

Subject: [APML] Frozen Cameras

Has anyone had similar experiences when shooting in very cold weather?
Surely there are some Canadians or other folks living further north
than I do in New York that have shot in the cold.  What, if anything,
do you do to keep your equipment warm enough to operate correctly?

<- snip ->

-5F? I laugh in the face of -5F!! (just not for very long!) Roland, I have
both an OM1 and OM2 that I have used for over a decade under temperatures
that cause autoguider cables to crack. I have never had to winterize them,
grease them, baste them or anything else - I just used them. Never had one
freeze up yet. However, I have always gone on the premise that water might
freeze under these temperatures and have taken steps to make sure that the
cameras stay as dry as possible. The time you are most likely to soak your
camera - even when RH is low - is when you bring it inside after shooting in
the cold. Once you get moisture inside the camera's workings, it can stay
there and freeze up on you the next time you go out. To avoid this, what you
need is no more complicated than a zip lock bag. No heaters, no hand warmers
(use them on your hands) and no propane tanks! When you are done shooting,
put the camera in the zip lock bag and seal it. When you get home, allow the
camera to fully warm up before opening the bag. You will probably be
surprised at how much water a -5F camera body will attract at room
temperature.

John Mirtle
Calgary, Ab. Canada


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